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In a Disaster

In a Disaster

In a Disaster

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Disaster situations, such as a hurricane, tornado, heat wave, blizzard or forest fire, can have a significant impact on everyone's safety, but they can be especially upsetting and confusing for individuals with dementia.

Plan ahead

Make an emergency plan. See the "Help Is Available" section at the bottom of this page. It has links to websites with helpful planning tips. As part of your plan, prepare an emergency kit.

Find out residential facility disaster plans. If an individual lives in a residential facility, learn about its disaster/evacuation plans. Find out who is responsible for evacuating the person in the event of an emergency.

Take specific needs into account. For example, if the person with Alzheimer's or other dementia uses a walker or portable oxygen, be sure your emergency evacuation plans accommodate these needs.

If you know a disaster is about to occur

Move to a safe place.

If the need to evacuate is likely, do not delay. Leave as early as possible to minimize long delays in traffic.

Alert others (such as family, friends and medical personnel) that you are changing locations, and give them your contact information. Update them regularly as you move.

Identify those who will help you. Are there friends or relatives you can stay with if you have to evacuate? If the person receives routine health procedures at a clinic or with home health, who are the back-up service providers? Have contact information easily accessible.

Learn how to get prescriptions and care.Purchase extra medication to have a supply on hand. Download Medicare's Getting Care and Drugs in a Disaster Area. It explains how Medicare beneficiaries have special rights to get out-of-network care if they live in an area where the President has declared a disaster.

Make sure medical records are accessible.It's important to have access to health records, especially in the case of an emergency. There are now many options for storing personal health records, including online services that make it possible to access records from anywhere in the world. Regardless of how you choose to store personal health information, make sure there are people other than the primary caregiver who have access to or copies of the person with dementia's medical history, medications, physician information and family contacts.

Prepare an emergency kit

Being prepared in case of an emergency is crucial. Put together an emergency kit in a watertight container, and store it in an easily accessible location.

Copies of important documents, such as legal papers, a list of medications and dosages, insurance information and Social Security cards

Several sets of extra clothing

Supplies of medication (or, at least, a list of medications and dosages)

During an evacuation

Even in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, changes in routine, traveling and new environments may increase the risk for wandering and agitation. Stay alert for unexpected reactions that may result from these changes.

When appropriate, share the diagnosis with others, such as hotel or shelter staff, family members and airline attendants, so they can better assist.

Try to stay together or with a group; it only takes a moment to get lost. Do not leave the person with dementia alone.

Do your best to remain calm, as this may help establish a positive tone.

Help Is Available

The American Red Cross website offers information about preparing for an emergency and where to find shelter and supplies in a disaster.